Decoupage Recipe Box

My brother is in the United States Army. He is a do-it-yourself kind of guy. He can build things, fix things, and now, probably because he is sick of fast food and microwave pizzas, he is learning to cook things. A looooooooooooooooong time ago he asked me for some recipes. Well, I just can’t do anything simply. I wanted to make him a recipe box, too. I finally got around to it and here it is:

TA DA!

I decoupaged fabric onto a cheapy $1 recipe box and touched it up with some paint. Here is how:
I measured VERY carefully and cut out a piece of fabric to wrap around the bottom, plus a little overlap, and a piece for on top with the corners cut out so it could come down over the sides.

Then I used ModPodge to glue the material to the box. It didn't go as smoothly as I thought because it is very hard to watch the edges of all four sides at once and get everything straight. So, there was a little bit that didn't cover.
So, I just got out some Country Tan paint that matched pretty nice and looked like sandy dirt, and I used a sponge brush to paint the inside and smudge some here and there and all over the edges to give it a grungy effect/cover up my mistakes. In hindsight, I wish I had pained it FIRST, because some of those stripes show through (with the digital camo it is OK) and it would have been easier to cover up some of those mistakes.

Finally, I added some cute labels on top. I typed these on the computer using stencil font and printed them out. I have heard that a regular ink-jet printer will run when using ModPodge on it, so I put a strip of clear tape over the lettering. If nothing else, it kept the paper from wrinkling up where the tape covered when applying the glue.

So, now I can give him all the secret family recipes I want. Except we don't really have any.

I think, though, that doing recipe boxes like this could be really nice bridal shower gifts. The fabric could match their kitchen or wedding colors. I might try it again. If you make one, I would love to see it!